Welcome, Future Banana Slug!
You have been invited to join a very special community, a world-class research institution that is also committed to social and environmental justice, and where you will have the chance to start your new life adventure!
A University Like No Other
As a student at UC Santa Cruz, you will have the opportunities offered by a large research university, plus the close-knit living and learning community of a liberal arts college, thanks to our well known residential colleges. From cutting-edge AI research to exploring the depths of our oceans, students and faculty are working together to improve our planet and the lives of all its inhabitants.
Welcome, Banana Slug Parents!
Welcome to UC Santa Cruz, a community of changemakers, leading at the intersection of innovation and social justice. We realize that the college journey is a major crossroads for families, and your student’s well being is our top priority throughout their time here. Please see families.ucsc.edu for a variety of support and community resources.
Join us at an Event or a Tour!
We’re excited to share the Banana Slug experience with you, from our gorgeous campus to our award-winning academic programs and wide range of cocurricular opportunities! Join us at our on-campus, local, or virtual events to help you and your family make an informed decision on your college journey. Our signature on-campus events will be Banana Slug Day and Transfer Day, but we also offer our special Admitted Student Tours on weekdays in April. And we’ll be on the road in the spring, visiting many cities in the U.S. and throughout the world, greeting admitted students and families.
Dream Your Future… and Then Make It Happen!
Do you want to preserve and protect our natural environment? Write fiction or non-fiction stories that uplift and engage your audience? Listen to people and help them heal from trauma? Make new computer programs to help better our lives? Create art, music, drama, computer games? UC Santa Cruz can help you make your dreams come true!
Student Stories
Your Future Teachers and Mentors
Student-Led Organizations
UC Santa Cruz's Greek organizations are social and service clubs -- the campus does not offer Greek housing.
